The Indian Navy has officially taken delivery of Nirdeshak (Yard 3026), the second of four large Survey Vessels (SVL) being developed by the Navy’s Warship Design Bureau and constructed at Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) in Kolkata. This milestone follows the commissioning of the first vessel, INS Sandhayak, on 3 February 2024.
The contract for the four SVLs was signed on 30 October 2018, marking a significant step in bolstering India’s maritime capabilities. Designed in accordance with the classification rules of the Indian Register of Shipping, Nirdeshak will undertake comprehensive coastal and deep-water hydrographic surveys, including the assessment of port and harbor approaches and navigational routes. It is also equipped to collect vital oceanographic and geophysical data for both defence and civilian applications.
Nirdeshak boasts impressive specifications, with a displacement of approximately 3,400 tons and an overall length of 110 meters. The vessel is outfitted with advanced hydrographic technologies, including a data acquisition and processing system, autonomous underwater vehicles, remotely operated vehicles, DGPS long-range positioning systems, and digital side-scan sonar. Powered by two diesel engines, Nirdeshak is capable of exceeding speeds of 18 knots.
The ship’s keel was laid on 1 December 2020, and it was launched on 26 May 2022. Following a rigorous series of trials both in harbor and at sea, Nirdeshak is now fully operational.
Notably, Nirdeshak features over 80% indigenous content by cost, reflecting the Indian government’s commitment to the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative aimed at promoting self-reliance in defense manufacturing. Its delivery underscores the collaborative efforts of numerous stakeholders, including Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and the broader Indian industry, in enhancing the country’s maritime capabilities within the Indian Ocean Region.
